When you think of places to fill a child with glee Brussels may not come to mind first. However, the combination of chocolates, waffles, chips, comic books, the birthplace of Jean-Claude Van Damme and a statue of a small boy weeing may change your mind! There is also the bonus of it being perfectly acceptable to say ‘Manneken pis’ as many times as possible without anyone being able to tell you off!
Read MoreDear Eurostar cleaning staff,
I am writing this to wholeheartedly apologise for making your life more difficult on Sunday evening.
I travelled home on the Eurostar from Brussels to London on Sunday evening after saying goodbye to my husband who is working abroad. I then proceeded to board the Eurostar on my own with my three young children in tow.
Read MoreIn early February on a grey rainy afternoon we found ourselves trudging through the forest looking for a huge den to accommodate all 9 of us along with my (rather heavy) cast iron fondue set. This adventure is best not to be taken too seriously - you don’t want to go far carrying a cast iron fondue set and there is always the threat of the meths spilling out everywhere - but the hot bubbling reward at the end is worth it!
Read MoreIf you want to thoroughly wear your children out take them to National Trusts Anglesey Abbey. To keep them occupied there is a 2-story tree house, woodland xylophone, secret garden, willow tunnel, discovery cabin to route around in, hammocks to lounge in, fortresses to protect, hay bales to run on and a dream dome for you to contemplate why you haven’t got quite as much energy as these little people! That’s all just in Hoe fen - then there is the rest of the gardens, the house, the mill and the restaurant.
Read MoreThis 16th Century Manor House is the boys favourite National Trust property. The interior was created by a collaboration between the National Trust and the BBC to reflect the house’s use through the ages. This is not a great spot for a Heritage purist, but if you are a little person who likes dressing up, playing chef and climbing in four poster beds, then it is the stuff dreams are made of.
Read MoreIf you ever find yourself unsuccessfully trying to persuade your little people out the door into the great outdoors, you may need some geocaching in your life! Treasure hunting, orienteering, a secret quest and scampering around in the leaves with the thrill of the find around the corner – what’s not to like?
Read MoreBuilt 4500 years ago with what must have been a deep love or honour for its long-forgotten cause. The largest prehistoric stone circle in the World, with deep ditches and hundreds of stones, some of which are truly enormous. All worked by hand with simple tools and brute strength. If you can’t feel the wonder or the magic of this place then you are dead inside!
Read MoreThere are few places more magical than sunrise at Stonehenge. Standing there as others would have 5000 years ago, watching the same sun rise up between the stones – it doesn’t get more atmospheric than that.
Read MoreOur trip to Dancing Ledge was about as idyllic as it could possibly be. A scenic coastal walk, a spot of rock climbing and then a swim in a crystal-clear pool with the tide lapping on the shore only feet away.
Read MoreThe lost gardens of Heligan are as magical as the story behind them. Hidden away under decades of weeds they were discovered and now thrive. Complete with its own jungle, rope bridge, magical gardens, sculptures, woodland, giant exotic plants, rare breeds and the best holiday actives for children imaginable.
Read MoreStrolling across the sand causeway to Burgh Island from the mainland is simply not good enough. You have to time it so that you wade knee deep through the water, otherwise where’s the fun in that? You will be rewarded with an island to explore, panoramic views to wow and then a pint and packet of crisps in a 700 year old pub. You could even get the sea tractor back to shore to complete the adventure.
Read MoreArguably one of the Devon’s finest unspoilt beaches. Set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with dunes and rocky cliffs providing shelter from the wind and panoramic views onto picturesque Burgh Island. At high tide a ring of pale and fine sand frames the sea then at low tide it becomes a golden expanse, dotted with pockets of shallow water and fantastic rockpools for poking about in. A reputation as one of the best surf spots in Devon and to top it off a Gastrovan serving up culinary treats.
Read MoreAn army of children all teamed up with the unrelenting task of stopping the stream of water meeting the sea. Dam building is just one of the attractions at this pretty little seaside Devonshire village. It boasts pastel cottages, 2 good pubs, a gallery, and 2 lovely sandy beaches complete with rockpools. Previously a fishing village now more famous for landing crabs and lobster, Hope Cove was once a favourite haunt for smugglers and still retains all the intimacy and charm of its characterful past.
Read MoreTucked away high up on the cliffs above Salcombe sits this hidden paradise. A subtropical garden, bursting with colour, filled with unusual and rare plants creating a dramatic display of hot colours. Explore the banana garden, meander through the olive grove, or relax beneath the palms and soak up the spectacular panoramic views across miles of beautiful coastline and estuary.
Read MoreScotney is not one but two houses. The views from the big country house down the hillside gardens prepare you for the Medieval Castle. However, wandering down along the winding paths it is only when you walk around the moated lake that it hits you just how pretty it is. Country house, romantic garden, 14th century moated castle - all in a beautiful wooded estate.
Read MoreRetrospectively, buying an axe, sword and shield for three littles boys was not my finest moment. What came next was pretty brutal even by battle of Hastings standards! That aside we had a wonderful time exploring the battlefield and abbey. The one date in English history that everyone knows is 1066 and the battle that took place here moulded our country into what it is today. It’s the last foreign invasion this country has seen and is a rite of passage for any self-respecting Brit.
Read MoreCatching those first glimpses of spring seems to come when we need them most. Just when we think the days can’t get any bleaker, that winter will last forever and the skies have permanently turned grey, along come the tiny glimmers. Peeking out under the debris of winter are snowdrops, aconites, daffodils, crocuses, primroses, hazel catkins dangling on bare branches, lambs frolicking in fields and birds chattering overhead. These beautiful delicate joys not only survive but thrive in these cold bleak conditions and we should follow their lead!
Read MoreView the natural world in all its raw beauty through the lens of the most talented wildlife photographers in the world. Tring Natural History Museum shows the compact version of this stunning annual exhibition and displays 17 of the winning images.
Read MoreWaddesdon Manor has got winter all wrapped up. Every outdoor chair beckons you with a sheepskin rug to sit on and a blanket to wrap around you, so sip hot chocolate with the huge French chateau as a back drop and bask in the views all around.
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